Are France unstoppable? - World Cup Daily

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1:39Hello and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly, France. Is there any point for the rest of us? A 3-0 win over Sweden, but it could have been eight. They didn't score until just before half-time, but they'd already created so much. Every time you looked up, Barcola, Dembele, Elisa and Mbappe were streaming forward like Mark Langdon going past Swedes like they weren't there. Mbappe's quick feet for the first and then two perfect assists from Elice for Barcala and then Mbappe again. It'll be some Paraguayan bust in the last 16. England have a long way to go before worrying about France. If they beat DR Congo, then Mexico at the Azteca looks pretty tricky if tonight's anything to go by.

2:11They battered Ecuador from the first minute. Jimenez hammering home the goals in the first half before they shut up shop. And then Erling Haaland left it late for Norway against the Ivory Coast, getting just enough on it to see the ball roll home like a perfectly weighted putt. It wasn't a classic, but the goals were all great. Noosa and Ahmed with brilliant individual strikes. We'll go back to Comedian's Corner. There's some advice on melons, your questions, and that's today's Guardian Football Weekly. On the panel today with me in LA, Barry Glendening, welcome. Hi, Max. Hello, Archie Rintut.

2:39Hi, Max. And on the night shift in Birmingham, Dan Bardell. Hello, Max. All right, let's start then with France's 3-0 win over Sweden in a hot New Jersey. Blimey, Barry. Is there any point? They look so much better than everyone else. Are you scared, Max? Are you? Listen, I was saying to you, I think I'd rather lose to D.R. Congo than have to play that French team.

3:03Max Rushden:They were so impressive. It was the standout display of this tournament so far. They're sort of playing this otherworldly, different sport to anything we've seen from any other team thus far in the tournament. It's intricate passing, just mesmerising, hypnotic play. it's lightning fast their front four is just quite frankly terrifying Michael Elisse it's between him and Mbappe I think at the moment we're the best player in the world and they're both on the same team and for a French team they seem remarkably ego free they seem to have a real collective spirit and a real togetherness and And if they can keep that up, and there's no guarantee they will play that well again, they may get better.

4:03Max Rushden:You might as well hand them the trophy right now. But I have noticed people are drawing a lot of comparisons being drawn with the Brazil side, the story Brazil side that played in the 1982 World Cup and didn't win it. So there's that. There is that. I mean, I don't know, Dan, how many times commentators have said it's been coming. But when Mbappe scored, a goal has never been more coming in the history of the game. Yeah, it was ridiculous, wasn't it? I mean, I didn't think they started brilliantly maybe for the first 20 minutes or so. But when they kind of clicked, they really clicked. They've just got silk, swagger, firepower that can hurt you from every angle possible.

4:45They've got penetration. Elisa is just absolutely ridiculous. ridiculous. I think everybody knew he was a good player, but I don't think anybody knew that he could get to this level. And I think Sweden held on for as long as they possibly could, didn't they? But it happens so often that when a team concedes right on halftime and the kind of halftime team tour goes absolutely out the window, they then come out in the second half and concede straight after halftime as well. It happens so many times in football that they could have scored six, seven, eight, and they're taking players off at the end and bringing on other excellent players.

5:19They are just an absolute handful. Do you remember, it probably was a while ago now, but there was a point where France, I think they won the World Cup and they were accused of being a little bit negative, but they got the job done and they won the World Cup in that way. I think they might win the World Cup in a more sexier way this time. Michael Alisse's five assists at the World Cup, the most by a player at a single edition of the tournament since Thomas Hessler for Germany in 94. And you've watched a lot of Elisa this season, Archie. And I think a lot of people who haven't really studied his game just wouldn't necessarily have passing as perhaps his great...

5:54I mean, he's got a lot of great attributes, but his passing is unbelievable. It's how he's adapted his position during this tournament as well. That first half against Senegal, we weren't sure about France. In fact, everything was pointing towards that image that Dan's been speaking of there, that this is the French team that can they click together? It doesn't seem quite right with the balance, but... Don't look at me and Barry, we cannot remember the first 20 minutes of France and a goal. But it's this trickery and disguise that Michael Alisse has. Watch how he continually drags the ball back with his studs, as if almost to invite them, as if to bait the opposition and say, come and get it, but you never can get it.

6:41He has become such a clutch player for Bayern. And whilst the second leg of the Champions League semis, yep, that happened not too long ago, Max. That was a disappointing game. He's shown up so many other times. And actually, when Bayern have been in peril, you notice, who do we give the ball to? We give it to Elise. But it feels wrong. I cannot just stick with one player here. And that, for me, is the scariest thing. is we're told so often you can't have your cake and eat it with attacking players you need certain players to be doing certain other jobs France can they can have all that quality and everyone plays for each other there's only been one bad murmur that I've seen come through which was of Ryan Cherky looking a bit snippy with Didier Deschamps after the game he does only get three minutes a game to be fair but how can he complain when that is what is happening and I saw the way that France started this game not so much as slow but more just studying the opposition and going hmm what have you got and then slowly they raised the pressure cooker more and more and more until Sweden just couldn't cope and it's difficult to really accuse Sweden of doing too much wrong here because France were so good.

7:57I mean, their keeper had a great game, didn't they?

8:00Max Rushden:I mean, France scored three, thumped two against the post. I mean, that overscissors kick from Alise and the edge of the penalty was just ridiculous. Just one thing on that. Max, what were you doing when Alise did that scissor kick? Oh, I can't remember. Oh, I remember. You were watching the Mark Langdon vegetable video. Yeah, of course I was. It's on Instagram. I mean, they're both equal pieces of art. they'd won disallowed for a really tight offside and Zetterström made five big saves big saves like good important saves as opposed so it could have been so much worse for Sweden who I don't think did a great team wrong I mean there was that moment where Barker had sort of dropped the shoulder and these two Swedish players just fell over like synchronised And we haven't even talked about Mbappe's feet yet for the first goal, Dan.

8:55It's interesting when we talk about him being a real team player and everything working, compared to Mbappe at Real Madrid, where often he gets the criticism for wanting to play in a certain position. And I don't know what that says about Real Madrid, but that doesn't really matter right now. His feet for that first goal are so good. Yeah, I've wrote down Mbappe feet are bigs, is what I've wrote down on my notes. I mean, we could talk about France all day and we probably should talk about them all day. I think we want to deconstruct feet a bit. Does it make any sense? I've heard it somewhere before.

9:28I've grabbed it from somewhere. I've definitely not come up with that myself. I'm definitely not that intelligent. Yeah, his feet for the first goal were, again, we keep using the word ridiculous, but that was how the whole game transpired in terms of how France played. I mean, it was kind of like Isak passing him over to Jocheres, which probably wasn't the ideal bit of defending the Sweden one, but you can't take anything away from him. He was so quick. I don't think I've ever seen a player move his feet so quickly and drive at defences. He was absolutely ludicrous and a great goal. Flatly Mbappe.

10:03That's what he is. So I was thinking Wietebeaks for feet, it's not a good... I mean, I know it rhymes. Apart from rhyming, it's got to actually know they're either really dry or really soggy. Dan is quite sleep deprived. It's 4am or whatever. Yeah, Colin Miller writing, since 2018, France have scored more World Cup knockout goals than England, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, Germany and Italy combined. Kylian Mbappe, that's 24 goals. The combined total for the other countries is 22. Kylian Mbappe's got 10. He's scored more World Cup knockout goals in that time than any of those leading European nations.

10:37It's not a question. It was kind to throw Italy in there, wasn't it? That's when they qualified. You're right. But yeah, I mean, beyond that, I suppose there is a question. because you say, Archie, those four can work. And is that because Chouamane and Rabiot are doing such a good job or the ball doesn't really get back to Chouamane and Rabiot for them to worry about it? Because I've been really impressed with Rabiot given that I, for some reason, have a preconceived idea of what Rabiot is. Everyone is functioning. And there is a similarity to what Kylian Mbappe is doing in this context in how it was for Paul Pogba with France, how the best version of Pogba was with France, not at club level.

11:25So there has been a precedent for that. I think that such is the pressure applied by that front four. Rabiot and Chouameni only have to do so much. They only have to hold their positions. And then it's, let's take the deck chairs out and watch what unfolds here. That's the most exciting thing. And when Didier Deschamps is bowing down to Kylian Mbappé as he comes off. Yeah, we don't need that. But I think that is a message because it plays into all those dictator memes about Kylian Mbappé for a start. But no, on a serious level, I think that is some recognition. And yeah, all parts of this French team are functioning.

12:05And even when Mike Magnon had to make a save, he looked pretty sharp as well. And actually, when Sweden did break through, then you've got Upa Makano and Saliba. That's pretty useful, right?

12:18Max Rushden:Yeah, I mean, if you're going to try and nitpick, I would say Jokeres gave Saliba a bit of a torrid time. A fella, obviously, he knows well. Early in the first half, and it was a good battle between them, which I think Jokeres was winning in so much as it was any kind of battle. because Sweden didn't get forward too often. But we're all going to look like chumps now when Paraguay hold them scoreless and then beat them on penalties, aren't we? I was going to say, how deep are Paraguay going to be? Yeah, the car park. It's going to be amazing. Anyway, well done to France. That was really quite good.

12:58And that'll do for part one. Part two, we'll do the game. We've just seen Mexico beating Ecuador in Mexico City. Hi, Pod fans. Max here. Barry's here too. Hello. Double Weekly is supported by Gradient FC. Now, Barry, with the World Cup underway, we know player performance will be under a microscope, from superstars cementing legacies to upstarts vying for big summer transfers. But with 48 teams and up to six matches a day, it's hard to catch every moment, and that is where the Gradient FC app shines. Their player rankings update daily during the World Cup, so you know whose performances are trending up or down on the world stage.

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15:02welcome to part two of the guardian football weekly so mexico to ecuador nil and actually archie you spotted this first and we we're on the the fourth floor of the hotel but we looked out the window and it's got a we're sort of quite high in the hollywood hills it looks down over la and all these fireworks are going off everywhere because obviously it's a huge number of mexicans in this city. Their first knockout win since 1986. First time they've had four clean sheets in a row at a World Cup. And for 45 minutes, Archie, they were relentless. And that's all they needed. The fireworks reflected the performance and I'm sure the atmosphere at the Azteca because they came out with such a bang.

15:39And the fireworks is also a theme for this game because of what the Mexican fans were doing outside the Ecuadorian hotel on the night before as well. and Ecuador were not happy about that, filed an official complaint. And yet, on the balance of... What was that complaint due? We were awfully tired, people. Can you do what? They did delay the game for an hour, I suppose. True, true. But you could have posed a legitimate question after the group stages and gone, OK, we saw the worst of South Africa against Mexico. We saw South Korea and Czechia, who have both since had their coaches stepped down from their positions.

16:19How good is this Mexican team? And this delivered an answer. Julian Quinones, who has been such a star for them at this World Cup, it's such a turnaround as well because in January 2025, Javier Aguirre, the coach, was saying, look, nobody watches the Saudi League. Nobody. And as a message to Quinones to say, look, what are you doing out there? I mean, it's a factual point, potentially. He starts the Gold Cup for Mexico last year, but he doesn't start any of their remaining games. And now he comes into this tournament where he's now being compared to Hugo Sanchez, the goat of Mexican football. And quite sweetly as well, if sweetly is the right word, Quinonez has been talking about, look, I want to give back to Mexico what they gave me because he moved from Colombia when he was 17.

17:17and if that was his aim, he has more than achieved that. It was not just from him. You could pick out Raul Jimenez as well, even though he missed that early chance, but just the way that the pressure grew. Eric Lira, again, in central midfield for them was superb. Gilberto Mora, who became the youngest player since Pelé to start a knockout game in the World Cup, I think it was. He looked so good. and even Raúl Rangel in goal for them. Two excellent saves from John Yeboah Zamora. The way that they managed the game in the second half, this was almost a perfect display for Mexico. Yeah. I mean, the Jimenez, he almost scored a Keith Outchin.

17:58I mean, he probably should have done, Barry, but both their goals had a real sort of Mexico 86 feel to me, just wallop it home.

18:06Max Rushden:Yeah, they really stayed. The move for the second, just short, sharp, quick passes. and Jimenez is put through, and yeah, just wet leathers it. The goalkeeper didn't get near either of them, as far as I can remember. Hugely impressive. I mean, I was very unimpressed with Ecuador's effort, and they just seemed to be totally overwhelmed. I don't know if it was the crowd, the occasion, the fact that they didn't have any sleep last night, but Mexico just tore at them like the hounds of hell and Ecuador barely got a touch for the first 15 minutes of the game I think the only two shots of note they had were Yeboah's which his uncle Tony would have been proud of both of them even if they didn't go in and as Archie said Mexico just controlled the second half and saw it out with ease you wouldn't expect really Ecuador had nothing.

19:12Is he his uncle Tony? No. No, I didn't think he was. I've checked so many times. I can't tell you how many times I've checked. It is late. I'm as tired as the Ecuadorians. Yeah, it is such a great championship manager regen name, is it? John Yeboah Zamora. Yeah, I thought, I mean, all Ecuador did really was just nothing until the 93rd minute, and then they were just annoyed, so wanted to kick somebody. I mean, you have said, Barry, and if England beat the Alcongue, and they may not, we don't know, that Mexico at the Azteca is the game that you're pencilling for, it's done, and it will not be easy if that happens.

19:50Max Rushden:On the evidence of tonight, I think Mexico would tear England apart. On the evidence of tonight and on the evidence of what I've seen from England so far. Mexico haven't conceded a goal yet in this tournament. And England have been, they've done just about the bare minimum. They haven't been impressive. at all. This was a very impressive display. But, you know, we're getting ahead of ourselves on a number of levels. Again, Mexico might not play that well again. Even if we are getting ahead of ourselves, or we say England or Dio Congo, Dan, with the hotel and thus the noise. I mean, I don't know if you've seen the footage of Ecuador, you know, the team being kept awake all night.

20:32If you were, let's say it's England, would you do like two hotels? Would you like book three different hotels? like get some lookalikes like how are you going to try and smuggle them into somewhere that means you could actually have a night's sleep because you're not sleeping, you're five months old you know what it's like, it's hard to perform at this level

20:51Max Rushden:I've got to shock you here Max, most Mexican hotels are probably staffed by Mexicans who let the cat out of the bag but there's disguises there's Mission Impossible masks I don't know Dan The Dear England cast, I could go and get a few of them get them involved that's the best way forward that I can think of I mean without the hotel stuff taken into account I think sometimes a host nation can just get some serious momentum and I think that's what Mexico have got USA and Canada have both had it to an extent but not to the extent that Mexico have got it and that game if England do get through the atmosphere will be like probably nothing those England players have ever experienced and they would have played in some hostile atmospheres that have played in atmospheres all over the world.

21:40But that will be something else and a true test of where this England team is at if they beat D.R. Conger. Yeah, it will just be, we'll be relying on who can put in, I was saying, who can put in a reducer in the 93rd minute just so we can feel like we've got something out of the gate. Hincapie, the second player to get sent off for covering his mouth. Disappointingly, the referee didn't give as good a VAR review as Ivan Barton. And I feel like it's probably muscle memory within a capier. I don't know. They were desperate for something. Someone was going to get sent off for Ecuador, weren't they?

22:16Anyway, the other game, Norway beating the Ivory Coast, a very late goal from Erling Haaland. And Dan, it was an interesting fit. It was a classic Haaland game, right? He didn't really touch the ball, but he did what he had to do. Seeing his dad choking up in the stands was pretty emotional. but that finish was, it was kind of not perfect, but I do like a slow finish. It's not the type of finish I think we've ever seen from Haaland. It was almost like a heavy first touch, wasn't it, that just trickled over the line? You could see the kind of angst on his face as well, that there wasn't enough on it, and it wasn't going to get over the line, but you're right to say it's like the typical vintage Haaland performance where he's not involved loads.

22:56He had a couple of headers, soft headers again in the first half, but I don't remember him doing too much else. but he doesn't need to because he's just got that knack of when his team that he's playing for needs something he's in the right place at the right time and it certainly wasn't the most beautiful goal out of the goals that were in that game last night but it was definitely the most telling and the most important he's just inevitable at Erling Haaland I just want to know why he wears Brout Haaland on the back of his shirt for Norway but not for Manchester City if it feels like the kind of thing Archie would know It's not okay there you are nice try I mean you looked at you looked at who was in the room it's okay we know our place Lars said Lars who would know he posted I love that today was about more than Haaland and Odegaard Berg lost his place just before the tournament won it back instead of sulking for this game was man of the match Nyland constantly doubted by just about everyone including myself coming up with a huge save at the end and actually Berg Barry for that Haaland goal like it's a lovely little pass from Oscar Bob but that little dinked cross from Berg was perfect, wasn't it?

24:05Max Rushden:Yeah, just a perfectly squared ball to Haaland. And, you know, he's very much one of these guys, well, I suppose they all play second fiddle to Haaland, but he's one of the more anonymous, not Haaland, not... Odegaard. Odegaard, yeah. I'm really undermining my own point here. You are, yeah. one of the blokes the nine other blokes he's very much one of them it was a bit of a miskick by Ireland I mean this game was a bit odd insofar as not much happened before the first drinks break and then Norway Neusa took a score lovely finish by him by the way that was very much against the run of play because Diamande and Nicola Pepe had been causing Norway all sorts problems with their forays down each wing and then Norway missed two very good chances before half time so I thought the Ivory Coast might come back into it, they duly did when Amadiello came on he scored a beauty probably the goal of the tournament until France took to the field and he also blocked one on the line a certain goal for Norway but yeah Haaland stepped up to score in his 13th consecutive international match.